Block-dividing reciprocating-saw woodworking machine



L. E. TOPHAM DIVID July 12, 1949.

' V BLOCK- ING RECIPROCA'IING-SAW WORKING MACHINE WOOD 6 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 9, 1944' [III/enfor- L414 rencefYEp/zam h m MR ...N m%% mwvw.J u ly 12, 1949.

BLOCK-DIVIISING RECIPROCATING SAW WOODWORKING MACHINE L E. TOP HAM2,475,683

Filed Feb. 9," 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 [nuenior Lauren C zapham 5 hiAiorngy July 12, 1949. l 1.. E. TOPHAM 2,475,533

BLOCK-DIVIDING RECIPROCATING-SAW WOODWORKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 9, 19446 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 12, 1949. L. 'E. TOPHAM 2,475,683

BLOCK-DIVIDING RECIPROCAI'ING-SAW WOODWORKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 9, 19446 Sheets-Sheet 4 [n.venfor July 12, 1949. L. E. TOP M 2,475,633

BLOCK-DIVIDING RECI R EATING-SAW Y WOODWORKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Feb. 9, 1944 [nven for Laure race 5 Topham "B5 kz' flzzorne "A."

July 12, 1949. 1.. E. TOPHAM 2,475,633

BLOCK-DIVIDING RECIPROCATING-SAW WOODWORKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-s 6 FiledFeb. 9 1944 fnven fo Patented July 12, 1949 BLOCK-DIVIDINGRECIPROCATING-SAW WOODWORKING MACHINE Laurence E. Topham, Wenham, Mass.,assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., acorporation of New Jersey Application February 9, 1944, Serial No.521,679

9 Claims.

This invention relates to woodworking machines and is particularlyconcerned with machines for dividing a block of wood or similar materialby a sawing operation.

In the manufacture of shoe lasts comprising separate, pivotally joinedforeparts and rearparts, it is customary to process the foreparts on alast lathe by a turning operation performed on wood blocks havingroughly a cylindrical shape, one such block furnishing one lastforepart. In finish-turning last foreparts on a last lathe it isnecessary, due to the considerable difference in shape between thefinished last forepart and the rough block from which it is produced, toremove a substantial amount of Waste material from the block during theturning operation, making that operation both costly and time consuming.

Sometimes the rough Wood block is trimmed prior to the finish-turning toremove some of the bulk of the waste or excess material normally roducedin the finish-turning of a last forepart. This is done by manuallypresenting the block to a circular saw, an operation which requires highskill and considerable judgment in preventing the circular saw fromcutting off too much material. Moreover, this operation is extremelydangerous and has resulted in many accidents. This becomes particularlyapparent when realizing that the pieces of material to be trimmed on areirregular in size and shape, a fact which necessitates manual rotationand other manipulation of the block while being operated upon by thecircular saw. Even though this procedure may speed up the finish-turningprocess, it does by no means avoid the loss and waste of a substantialamount of excess wood.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to mitigate theremoval from forepart blocks of a large amount of excess material aswaste in the finish-turning of last foreparts by the last lathe.

To this end the invention, in its method aspect, provides dividing alast forepart block of com volitional size or of only slightly largerthan conventional size into two nested components by a helical cutextending from one end face of the block to the other, andfinish-turning each component in a last lathe to produce a lastforepart. Thus one last forepart block furnishes two last foreparts.

To divide the last forepart block there is provided, in accordance withanother feature of the invention, a machine having a saw, a support forl the last forepart block, and mechanism for simul- 2 taneously rotatingand longitudinally moving the support with a block mounted therein so asto feed and rotate the block past the saw and to divide the block intotwo nested components by a helical cut.

In accordance with a further feature of the.

invention, the rotary and longitudinal movements of the block supportare obtained by two axially alined screw shafts which are rigid with thesupport, an axially immovable, positively rotated nut engaging one ofthese shafts to rotate the entire assemblage comprising the blocksupport and the two shafts, and a stationary nut engaging the othershaft to control the extent of rotation and longitudinal movement of theassemblage.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the support for theblock is actuated to perform a work feeding operation in time relationwith the operation of the saw, and in particular the feed motion of thesupport is retarded or even reduced to zero during the upstroke of thevertically reciprocating saw so as to prevent a binding of the saw inits kerf.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of mechanism forinitially positioning the block in the block support with relation tothe saw, prior to the initiation of a sawing operation. After thepositioning of the block and immediately prior to the initiation of asawing operation, the block positioning mechanism and block support arelocked together to move as a unit.

A further important feature of the invention consists in the provisionof a saw having its blade twisted along its longitudinal axis, and asupport for the saw provided with a threaded member having a helix anglesubstantially equal to the helix angle of the twisted saw blade, thethreaded member cooperating with a stationary member to rotate the sawsupport during the reciprocation thereof, Thus the helically twisted sawmoves like a screw through the work, which in this instance is theequivalent of a fixed nut.

These and other features of the invention are hereinafter described morespecifically in connection with the accompanying drawings, and arepointed. out in the claims.

In the drawings:

1 is a front elevation of a last forepart block cutting machineembodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail showing of the mounting of the upper end of the sawwith which the machine illustrated in Fig. 1 is provided;

Fig. 4 is a detail showing of the mounting of the lower end of the saw;v

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a right-hand side elevation of a vertical sectionsubstantially through the middle of the machine illustratedin Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a right-hand side elevation of part of the mechanism foractuating the block support, particularly the feed retarding means ofthat mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a plan view partly in section of a clutch controllingmechanism which is part of the mechanism for actuating the'blocksupport,

the section being taken along the lineVIII-VIII of Fig. 9;

Fig. 9 is a section taken along the lineiIX-JX of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a, section taken along the line X--X of Fi 1;

Fig. 11 is a detail View, partly in section, of a work positioningmechanism;

Fig. 12 is an end view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 11;

i Fig. 13 is a section taken along the line XIII- XIII ofFig. 1;

Fig. 14, is an end View anda section taken along the line XIV-XIV ofFig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a plan view of'the block support with a last' forepart blockcontained therein;

.Fig. 16 is a section taken along the line XVI- XVI of Fig. 15;

Fig. 1'7 is a section taken along the line XVllI XVII of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a section taken along the line XVIII- XVIII of Fig. 15;

Fig. 19 is an angular view of a last forepart block divided into twonested components by a helical cut;

Fig. 20 is an angular view of the lower one of the two componentsillustrated in Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is an angular view of the upper one of the two componentsillustrated'in Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 illustrates a finish-turned last forepart produced from oneof'the components illustrated in Figs. 20 or 21;

Fig. 23 is a section taken along the line XXIII- XXIII of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a section taken along the line XXIV- XXIV of Fig. 22, and

i Fig. 25 is a section taken along the line XXV- XXV of Fig. 22.

The illustrated machine serves the purpose of dividing wood block havinga roughly cylindrical shape, such as are commonly used in themanufacture of last foreparts, intotwo nested components. The divisionis made by a helical out such that the dividing faces of the twocomponents of a block constitute each a hyperbolic paraboloidcomplementary to the other. .As a result, two last forep-arts may bemanufactured from a block of the same size as, or only slightly largerthan, a block from which heretofore only one last forepart was produced.To secure this result there is provided a sawing mechanism generallyindicated at III in Figs. 1 and 6, and a work support, or morespecifically, a last forepart block support generally indicated at I2 inFigs. 1 and 15. The block support I2 is constructed and arranged torotate about its longitudinal axis: and to move longitudinally alongthis axis so as to feed a roughly cylindrical wood block B maintainedinthe support I2, past the saw and simultaneously to .rotate the block Bso as to saw the block into two nested parts or components B and Bdivided along a helical cut as illustrated in Fig. 19. Each block partor component B or B as shown in Figs. 20 and 21, is roughly in the shapeof a last forepart L (Fig. 22) and requires the removal of only arelatively small amount of excess or waste material in itsfinishturning. The sectionalviews of Figs. 23 to 25 show the closenessin size and shape of the block component and the finished last forepart.

The following detail description of the construction and operation ofthe illustrated machine is divided into descriptions of the main groupsof elements of the machine, including the main driving mechanism, thesawing mechanism and I the work supporting and feeding mechanism.

The machine frame comprises a substantially box shaped base I4 (Figs. 1and 6) to the upper portion of which are bolted at opposite sidesthereof two laterally and upwardly extending arms I6 and I8. The upperends of the arms I6 and I8 serve to Support mechanism, to be described,for actuating the work support I2 or for controlling the actuationthereof.

The main drive.-As illustrated in Fig. 1 the base I4, has a left handextension 20 serving as a bracket or support'for a motor 22. Asmallpulley 24 (Fig. 6) on the rotor shaft of the motor 22 is-in drivingconnection by a belt 25 with a pulley 28 secured on a shaft 30 arrangedin suitable bearings in the machine frame, and hereinafter referred toas the main shaft. The main shaft 30 serves to actuate the sawingmechanism In and the work support I2, To actuate the sawing mechanism,the mainshaft 30- has splined to its forward end a disk 32 (Figs. 1, 2and 6) which is provided near its circumference with a crank pin 34. Theconnections between the crank pin 34 and the sawing mechanism will bepresently described. To actuate the work support, the main shaft 39 hassecured to its rearward portion a small pulley 40 (Fig. 6) which isconnected by a belt 42 to a pulley '44 of the same size as the pulley40. The pulley 44 is secured on the rear portion of a counter shaft46-(Figs. 6 and 7) which is rotatably mounted in fixed hearings in themachine frame and on which is secured a pinion 48 meshing with a pinion50 on a cam shaft 52 serving to actuate the Work support. The cam shaft52 is maintained for rotation and axial movement in suitable bearingsprovided in the machine frame. The pinions 48 and 50 are of sufficientwidth to maintain driving connection between them in spite of axialmovements of the cam shaft 52. The connections between the cam shaft 52and the work support I2 will be described further below.

The sawing mechanism and its actuation .-The saw comp-rises a blade(Figs. 1 and 6) which is twisted about its longitudinal axis so that theopposite ends of the saw blade are disposed with relation to each otherat an angle of about The saw blade 63 is maintained, as will be morespecifically described, in a support 62 comprising substantially twolooped members which are joined at their upper and lower ends and whichare curved laterally and forwardly, or rearwardly respectively, so as toavoid interference with the work support as the latter is caused to movethe work contained therein past the saw. The lower end of the sawsupport 62 is secured to the upper end of a multiple helically splinedshaft or multiple threaded screw 64 extending vertically through astationary nut 66 having a flange at its upper end and being supportedin a portion of the machine" frame. In setting up or assembling themachine parts, the nut 66 may be adjusted by a limited rotation aboutits vertical axis, whereupon the nut is secured in adjusted position byclamping screws 68 (Fig. 1) extending through curved slots in the flangeof the nut and threaded into the machine frame. The splined shaft 64 hasa lower continuation in the form of a rod having a smooth surface andmaintained for sliding movement in and with relation to a fixed bearingI2. Upon vertical re ciprocation of the splined shaft 64 and the sawsupport '62 by the crank pin 34, as will be described, the saw support62 is given a rotary motion as a result of the movement of the splinedshaft 64 through the stationary nut 66. The helix angle of the threadsof the shaft 64 is substantially the same as the helix angle of thehelically twisted saw blade 60. Consequently, the saw in moving throughthe kerf in the work, is moved in the direction of its longitudinal axisas well as rotated about this axis so that its motion through the workmay be compared with the motion of the shaft 64 through the fixed nut:66,

the work in this case corresponding to the latter.

The crank pin 34 acts upon the sawing mechanism by means of a connectingrod I4, the upper end of which is connected to th splined shaft 64 foruniversal movement relatively thereto. For this purpose, the lower endof the splined shaft 64 has secured to it a collar 16 (Figs. 1, 2 and 6)provided with a laterally and forwardly extending arm 78, integral withwhich is a depending pin 80 (Fig. 2). The pin 80 is pivotally receivedin a sleeve or bearing member 02 surrounding a horizontal pin 84 andsecured thereto by a set screw (not shown). The pin 80 extends throughth bearing member 82 and is held therein by a nut 85 threaded upon thelower end of the pin 80 and bearing against the bearing member 82.Rotatably mounted on the horizontal pin 84 is a cross shaped hollowblock 66 in which the bearing member 82 is contained for movementrelatively thereto and which in turn is pivotally secured by trunnionpins (not shown) to a yoke 88 (Fig. 1), provided at the upper end of theconnecting rod 14. The lower end of the connecting rod I4 cooperateswith the abovementioned crank pin 34 in the following manner. The lowerend of the connecting rod 14 has a U- shaped or yoke shaped portion 90upon which fits a complementary member 92 secured thereto by screws 04to hold in place two block shaped members 96 (Fig. 2) which are machinedout to provide a spherical socket for the ball shaped head 98 of thecrank pin 34.

As will be noted, upon rotation of the shaft 30, which is uniform, andthe disk 32 as well as the crank pin 34, the saw support '62 and the sawblade 60 secured therein, are reciprocated vertically, and at the sametime, by reason of the engagement of the splined shaft 64 with thestationary nut '66 and the vertical movement of theshaft through thenut, the shaft 64 and the saw frame 62 supported by it, are rotatedabout the longitudinal axis of the saw blade, which coincides with thelongitudinal axis of the splined shaft '64.

The upper end of the saw blade 60 is secured engaged by a nut I04 and acheck nut I06, the nut I04 resting against a washer I08, seated upon theupper end of the saw support 62. To receive the saw blade, the block I00is provided with a vertically extending slot IIO. Integral with the withwith relation to the saw support 62 upon vertical adjustment of theblock, there is provided a pin and slot connection II6 between the blockI00 and the upper end of the saw support 62.

The lower end of the saw is secured in the saw support 62 in thefollowing manner: The aforementioned splined shaft 64 has a reducedupper portion I I1 (Fig. 4) provided with a central bore hole ofsubstantial diameter. The upper portion II! of the splined shaft 64 fitsinto a central socket provided at the lower end of the saw support 62and extends therethrough. In the assembled condition of the machineparts there is contained in the bore of the upper portion II! acylindrical block II8 provided with an inclined saw receiving slot I20the inclination of the slot corresponding in its angularity to the helixangle of the twisted saw blade 60. The lower end of the saw bladeextending into the slot I20, is secured in the block I I8 by ahorizontal pin I22, driven through alined bore holes of the block H8 anda corresponding hole in the saw blade alined therewith. Mounted on topof the cylindrical block H8 is a disk I24 having certain portions alongits periphery machined out to provide lands I26 engaging a groove I28provided near the upper end of the bore in the portion II! of the shaft64. The overhanging flange I29 produced by the groove I26 also ismachined out along certain portions of its perimeter to produce landsI30 (Fig. 5). Upon assemblage of the machine parts, the disk I 24 isbrought into engagement with the slot I20 (after the block II8 with asaw blade received therein hasbeen placed into the bore of the portion II1) by passing its lands I26 through the machined out portions of theflange I29, whereupon by rotation of the disk I24, it may be heldagainst vertical displacement in the fashion of a bayonet lock. The diskI26 also has a saw receiving slot which is a continuation of the slot520. Thereafter, the disk I24 and the block I I8 are secured together byscrews I32 (Fig. 5).

To twist the saw blade 60 and maintain it in a twisted condition, thedisk I24 has pivotally secured to it a dog I34, one end portion of whichmay be brought to engage an end face on one to the shaft 64 that theopposite ends of the saw blade are disposed at an angle of to eachother.

In order to prevent the saw support 62 from relatively rotating withrelation to the upper end of the splined shaft 64, the two are connectedbya key I38 (Fig. 4), held in the lower end of the saw support 64 andextending into a vertical keyway I36, provided in the upper portion II!of the shaft64. This entire assemblage, particrate-i953;

ularl shaft- 6 and, up or is-held o e he by nut. I3 0, threadedupon thpore tion Il proiectin 'outaof:th as eket rthe. aw' supp r 62; the n I40being t tened against the upper end of-t hat'socket.

Th o k. suppo t ng and" fee ing mechanismand; its.actuation.'l?he-worksupport it om-- pri es principa lya hollcw-'shell-like'.m m e .06: (Figs. 1 and 15)whiohzis-substantiallycylindrical and has openings out out along:helically. extending edges 202,- andslots 2 04,also-extendingi-helicale ly in the direction of thelaxis of rotationof-the- Work support toprovide clearance for thesawblade 60,cooperating,withwthework support-and; passing through it. The shell-likemember .200. connects two axially al-ined, helically splined! shafts or.screw. shafts 26.6: and" 2.08 having multiplethreads With which theshell-like member 200is-integral. The shafts 20.6 and 208 support theshell-like member 200 and actuate it so as to feed and turn the work.

The right-hand shaft 220.8.issupported' in'the upper end of thepreviously mentioned arm I6- of the machine frame. To this end the upperextremity of thearm l8 isformed as a twopartclamp 210 in whiohisreceived anut'2 i2 (Fig. 13),. The nut 2|2 is in threaded engagement.with the screw shaft 205 and is held against rotaa tion by the actionofithezclamp-2lfl. To prevent axialmovement of. the nut 2I2itisprovidedat: its opposite ends with flanges 2M and 2i'6', abutting the endfacesoft the clamp: 2l0. The two parts of the clamp 2L0 areheld'together in firm clamping engagement byscrews 2l8; illustrated,best in Fig. 14, thenut 2!2 is provided with an adjustment to facilitateits assemblage in the setting up. of the machine parts. The lowerportion of the flange 2 16 ofthe nut 252, has in it an arcuate slot 222:through which extends. a clamping screw 220 threaded" into the lowerportion of the clamp 210. With the clamp ing screw 220. backed, off, thenut 2!2 may be rotated to the extent-permitted by the length of the slot222. Thereafter; the clamping screw 220 is tightened to connect togetherthe nut 2!2 and the clamp;2l0.

The lefthand shaft 206 is'supported'in the upper end of the. previouslzgmentioned arm. Hit of the machine frame in: a manner. similar to thatjust described in connection with the rightehand' shaft 200. The upperend of the arm l6. also is formedas a two part clamp 226 .(F gs. 1 and10), the two parts of which are held together by screws 228 and afford abearing for a nut 230. The nut 230 is in threaded: engagement. with thescrew shaft 206 and is rotatably sup-s ported in the clamp bearing 226.The nut 230' isaxially immovable and for this purpose it is provided atits right-hand end with a collar 234 splined to the nut 230 and abuttingone end face of the clamp 226. At its left-hand end the nut 230'has aflange 236 which contacts the other end face of the clamp 226 and isinthe form of a gear. By the rotation. of the gear 23fi,-the nut 23-0 isrotated to rotatethescrew shaft 206. and the mechanism connectedtherewith, as will= be described presently.

As will be seen from the above description of the construction of theWork supporting and feeding mechanism, the serewshaft 206' is re.- tatedby the gear 236 which, is integral with the nut 230. Since the shell200and thescrewshaft 208 are integral with the screw shaft 206, they arerotated with the latter. :However, thescrew shaft 206 and'the. nutx230donot rotate solidly isconstrained by the nut 2l2 to make approxi;

of the screw shaft 208.

cooperating with the rotary nut 230 to tend, SQ.

o ether, t ere e n a v l f rent al rotation. and;

an endwise movement of the screw s aft 20,6 with; relation to andthrough the axially immovr. able nut 230. Theendwise or axial movement.

1 of the screw shaft 206 and hence of the shell 200;;

and the screw shaft 208 is theresultof therotae. tion of the screw shaft208 through the sta-. tionary nut 2 [2. It is understood that the crewshaft208 by reasonof its rotationwith relation; to the stationary nut2l2 is constrained to move endwise or longitudinally in the directionof, its; axis of rotation. In viewof the factthat the nut 212 isstationary and has-a predetermined helixangle, the extentofthelongitudinal movement of: the screw shaft 208 and hence the extentof;v longitudinal movement of the shell 200. and the screw shaft 206isdetermined by the stationary, nut, 2I2. At the same time it is to benoted thatthe extent of rotarymotion imparted to the screw.

shaft 208-, the shell 200 and the screw shaft 206;

during a predetermined endwise movement and: sufficient to move the workpast the saw, is also determined by the stationary nut 212. a. matterof'fact, during. the predetermined endwise movement of the worksupporting mechanism it mately one-half of a revolution.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the arrangement is suchthat the helix angle of; the screw shaft 206-differs from the helix;angle: In the particular int. stance, the helix angles. of the shafts 206 and; 208 are so selected that the shaft 208 has the smaller helixangle. The purpose of this ar rangement is to cause the screw shaft 206-in,

to speak, to feed ahead, thus preventing any bachlash of the screw shaft208 with relation to the. stationary nut 2 I 2.

The compound rotary and longitudinal motion, of the shell 200 causes thework supported therein to be fed past the sawand simultaneously tobeiturned or rotated so thata helical cut is made: by the saw 60 throughthe work from one end face thereof to the other.

Prior to the initiation of a sawing operation, the wood block Bsupported in the shell 200 is located with relation to the saw 60. Thisrela= tion is best illustrated in Fig. 15. One end face of the woodblock is positionedv opposite the toothed edge of the saw, the latterpassing. through the slot 204 of the shell 200. During one. sawingoperation, the entire length of the block B. is fed past the saw.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the screw shafts 206 and 208 haveoppositelyextending threads. The reason for this will become apparentupon the following consideration, In order to bring about a feedmovement of the work supporting shell 200 from the position illustratedin Fig. 1 toward the left, it is necessary, since the gear 236 is ro-,tated in a clockwise direction as viewed from the left-hand side of themachine, that the screw shaft 206 has rightehand threads. The nut 2|2=cooperating with thescrewshaft 208- being stationary, it is necessarythat the shaft 208has left hand threads in order to be rotated in thesame direction asthe shaft 206.

After the completion of one feed movementof the work supporting shell200 past the saw 60, it is automatically brought to a stop as will beexplained, whereupon the shell 200 and both screw shafts 206 and 208 aremanually returned to initial position. As indicated in Fig. 13, thescrew shaft 208 is hollow-audits right-hand end.-

. I is closed by a fitting 240 which is in threaded engagement withinternal threads in the said end of the shaft 208. Threaded into tappedbores of the fitting 240 and extending at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the shaft 208 are two handles '242, this mechanismconstituting a capstan by which the shaft 208 and with it the shell 200and the shaft 206 may be returned to initial position by a combinedlongitudinal and rotary motion.

The mechanism for initially positioning the work-Before the initiationof a sawing operation, the block B is positioned in the shell 280 so asto locate it initially in a predetermined position with relation to thesaw 60, the mechanism accomplishing this also serving to secure theblock in the shell 200 in this predetermined position. To this end,there are provided two pairs of block engaging prongs 250 and 252 whichare movable in opposite directions toward and from each other parallelto the axis of rotation of the shell 200. The two prongs of each pairextend horizontally and their horizontal alinement is maintained duringthe positioning of the work. The left-hand prongs 250 are illustrated inFigs, 10, 11 and 15, and the right-hand prongs 252 are illustrated inFigs. 13 and 15. The mounting of the left-hand prongs 250 is as follows:

Referring to Fig. 10 it will be noted that the screw shaft 206 also ishollow and its left-hand end is closed by a fitting 254 threaded intoit. Rotatably mounted in a bore extending through the fitting 254 is thereduced left-hand end 256 of a rod 258 extending along the interior ofthe screw shaft 208. At its left-hand extremity the reduced end 256 hassecured to it a hand wheel 260 by which it may be rotated. The rod 252is immovable axially in both directions. To this end, the hub 262 of thehand wheel 260 is arranged to abut the left-hand end face of the fitting254. This prevents movement of the rod 258 toward the right of Fig. 10.Axial movement of the rod 258 in the opposite direction is prevented bythe engagement of a shoulder on the rod 258 with the right-hand end faceof the fitting 254. A J' A right-hand portion 266 of the rod 258 also isreduced in diameter. The portion 266 is threaded and is in engagementwith an internally threaded tube 266, also extending along the interiorof the hollow screw shaft 206. The tube 268 is slidable in a bearingsleeve 210 immovably maintained inside the shaft 206. As will be noted,upon rotation of the hand wheel 260 the rod 258 is rotated but preventedfrom axial movement and the rotary motion of the threaded right-handportion 266 of the rod 258 causes an axial movement of the tube 268 inone direction or the other depending upon the direction of rotation ofthe hand wheel 260. The tube 268 serves to support the prongs 256. Forthis purpose, the tube 268 is provided with a forked front end 212(Figs. 10 and 11) and a pin 214 extends crosswise through the fork atright angles to the longitudinal axis of the tube 268. Secured on thepin 214 is a casing 216 housing theend 212 and the mechanism connectedtherewith (Fig. 11). Mounted in the casing for sliding movement parallelto the axis of the tube 268 and the screw shaft 206 are two blocks 218located diametrically opposite to each other. The blocks 218 arecylindrical and provided with apertures in their front ends in which arereceived and secured by set screws 280 the two prongs 250. The setscrews 280 extend through slots 282 provided in the walls of the casing216 to prevent the blocks 218 from rotating about their longitudinalaxes. The rear end faces of the blocks 218 are in engagement with anequalizer 284 rotatably mounted on the pin 214. Thus the two prongs 250may move independently of each other to a limited extent in the axialdirection of the screw shaft 206, so as to accommodate uneven end facesof the block B to be clamped in the shell 200. Undue movement of theequalizer 284 is prevented by a conical stop face 286 provided at theforked end 212 of the tube 288 and cooperating with the rear face of theequalizer 264.

To keep the prongs 250 in horizontal alinement during their movementcaused by the rotation of the hand Wheel 266, the tube 268 is providedwith a slot 280 (Fig. 10) engaged by a pilot screw 292 mounted in thehub of the shell 200. Thus the tube 266 is prevented from undue rotationso as to prevent the prongs 250 from fouling the saw 60. After theprongs 3:168 have been advanced with relation to the screw shaft 286 andthe shell 200 to position and secure the block B in the shell 200, thetube 268 carrying the prongs 250 is prevented from further movement withrelation to the screw shaft 206 by the tightening of a binding stem 294,locking the tube 268 to the screw 206 so that henceforth both move as aunit during the ensuing sawing operation. Thus the predeterminedposition of the work with relation to the shell 200 is maintained. Thebinding stem 264 is operated by a handle 296 (Fig. 15), which is inengagement With the threaded upper end of the stem 284.

The right-hand prongs 252 (Fig. 13) are mounted in the machine in amanner similar to that of the left-hand prongs 250 described above. Thehollow screw shaft 208 is closed at its righthand side by the previouslymentioned fitting 240. A rod 300 extends along the interior of the screwshaft 208 and has a reduced right-hand portion 302 extending through thefitting 240 and rotatably mounted therein. The portion 302 carries atits right-hand extremity a hand wheel 304 by means of which the rod 300may be rotated. The rod 300 is immovable axially. To this end, the hub306 of the hand wheel 304 is arranged to abut the fitting 240. Thisprevents axial movement of the rod 300 toward the left of Fig. 13. Toprevent axial movement of the rod 300 toward the right of Fig. 13 ashoulder formed by the reduced right-hand portion 302 abuts against theleft-hand end face of the fitting 240. The rod 300 also has a reducedleft-hand portion 308 which is threaded and is in engagement with theinternal threads of a tube 310. The tube 3l0 is movable in the directionof its longitudinal axis upon rotation of the rod 300 by the hand wheel384. The tube 3l0 is received in a bearing sleeve 3l2 mounted in theinterior of the screw shaft 208 and held in place therein. At itsleft-hand end the tube 3l0 carries an equalizing mechanism for theprongs 252, which mechanism is identical in construction and purposewith the equalizing mechanism of the prongs 250. To prevent rotation ofthe tube 3l0 on rotation of the rod 300 and thus limit the motion of thetube 3l0 substantially to a longitudinal motion for the purpose ofkeeping the prongs 252 in horizontal alinement, the tube 3l0 is providedwith a slot 3l4 extending lengthwise thereof and engaged by a pilotscrew 316 threaded through the right-hand hub of the shell 208. As willbe seen, upon rotation of the hand wheel 304 the tube 3l0 carrying theprongs 252 is advanced or retracted depending upon the direction ofrotation of the hand Ywheereut. )[This movement-of thetube a l tand theprongs' 2'52- is with relation to the shaft 2938 "and the worksupp'orting shell 200 integral therewith. After 'tliisvifork en'gagingand work-posit'ioning movement-ofthe'p'rOrig's-252has been ter ininatedthe tube 310 is looked to the shaft 2% "by the tightening of a bindingstem 3 [8 provided with an operating handle-320 (Fig.

In clamping-a woodblock-B in the machineand fwithin theshell 290. Itis'to'be understood that any irregularities in'theend faces of the blockengaged by the prongs B and 252 are automatically accommodated by theself -'adj'usting prongs.

- Theufinal positionof the blook Bwith relation to "the shen the ismaintained. and 'securedby the operation oftheh'andles296 and 320 takingup on the binding, stems 294 and. M8 soas to lock. the jprongs and themechanisms carrying and moving them to their respective shrew shaftszflfi and. 298. It has been stated: that. the work support is drivenbythe positives rotated gear 238 which is integral with the him 230, thelatter being in threaded engagement with thescrew shaft 206."Moreoverfitllhasbeen pointedout that the pre- "viously describedshaft752 (FisQ'G and '7) serves "to actuate the work'sup'pfo'rt. Theconnections, Qincluding'a clutohine'cha n is'in between the shaft 52amth gear 2 36, are as follows: As illustrated best in Fig. 7, 2worintiill is secured'on the left- "hand portion of the shaftihand isin-driving enjgagement with a worm-ge ar 332. The worm gear 332, asillustratedbest in Fig.1, is part of a speedreducing mechanism --general1yindicatedat 334 and containinga series of stub; shafts andintermeshing gears, incI-udi-ngagear-MG which meshes with a gear3330x152, clutch-shaft-MB (Fig. 8-). The clutch "shaft? 3140 :'-is-:rotatably mounted ina bracket which is part-of the" left-hand arm ll 6of the machine-framerandcarries" a' gear 342 loosely rotatable thereonbut' axially immovable relatively thereto. Integral'w ith 'the' ge'ar342" is a 'frust'ocvzinical'friction clutch member 344 which is the"drivenmember of; aclut'ch. -Thedriving member "of the clutch isidentified -at 34B andis fast 'on the shaft 340' in the sense that it isconstrained to rotate th-eiew-itlrbutmay be displaced axially "withrelation thereto-seas toinove into and out *or driving'engagement withthe member 344. A spring"3T1?! interpdsea tetweeh a collar 352 fixed (onthe left-hand extremity ofthe shaft 340 and the"h1.ib"354 fof'the-drivingiclutch' member 34% tends to slid th merfllo el 34fi fwhichis continuous'ly"rotatd as a resultof "the continuous rotation of the"shaft 3'4'flj'to the Tightof Fig. 8 to en- "gage the c1utch n1eh1her-344 and rotate the gear "342' which 'l'neshes -witlfrthe'gear 2'36,thereby r0- ftating the nut the "resu'ltspreviously explained T -hb354of'the"c1utch member3'46 has a 'circumf'erhtial groovewhich isengaged the forked 'endof a clutch shifting lever 356fpivotallysecured"at358*to abracket arm 3'60 which is'part'of themachine frame. "Substantiallyfinidwayffitweenfits endsthelever 356 is*pivotally ngaged'by one"er'1d'of at'oggle' comf prising two links' fizanti esnonnettee to e her by "a center joint -366-E togglelink f36'4- ispivotally se'chred 4 at- 3! 0 5 to -'-the 'machine frairie and'hasintegral' th'rewith-aifd' extending atright angles theretd a "handle368-. Movement of the handle'to' therig-ht of Figibreaks thetoggle'aridpermits the spring 950 to -'establish"driving connection betweentheclutch "members-*3 and-346 s'o that the *work s'iipporting assemblage"will be actuated. v

As has been previonslyexplained, during the actuation of the works'iipp'orting assemblage it is moved fro'm'the position ill-u'stratedinFig. 1to "ward the left. Thismotio'n' is utilized automatically to throwout the'c1utch344," 3460n termina- "tion'of a sawing operation. To"this'end the handle 368] isfprovi dewwith a'small upstanding plate 3'i2migltr hich may-be engaged by a slide rod 314 movablei -a bore in a''bracket"of the "machine frame anw-pr videar-at its "right-handextremity with a'jfork s'hapedmember 316 (Fig. "9)'embracingt'hesc'rewshaft ZUBTpaLrt way. to

prevent rotation "of? the rod, 314. Upon'ter'mination' of a sawingofieiiatiorfth 'ine'iriber 316is ena clutch member-3 46 out. of.engagementwith the notc "member 3'44. 1 The toggle;- 3 62,; 364- being"xte'fidd it acts as :a' roaring "means for: holding the clutch"disengagdlagain'st the pressure ofthe spring 350iwhiclifseeks' toreestablish driving con- "nectio'n.

The feedocin'fiolling mechcm-ism- To facilitate the sawing operation;inparticular to insure that the saw tt doesi'hot' bincl when movingthrough its .kerf,' special mechanism --is provided in connection' withfthelpreviously, mentioned 02,111 shaft 52; for. retarding" orcompletely stopping the feed motion 'of the work-n temporarily andintermity't'ently. 'In I particular, -the feed motion of the work isretarded or. completely stopped during alternate strokeswof thevertically reciprocating aw; and in the present instance the arrangementis such that the: work'ieed ris retardedor stopped during each upstroke,of the saw or, in other words, that the work is fed' or fed moresrapidly during each downstroke o f the saw. To accomplish-this there issecured onthet shaft-52a :camb1ock 38-0 (Fig 7 l provided; with a.peripheral groove,--the center ofjthegroove lying-1 generally inia planeoblique to' the axis-ofthe-shaft SZ; 'The groove is engaged .by-acam;follow-er 38-2twhichis rotatably mounted on-a-fixed bracket'r384r Aspreviously mentioned, the-- shaft- 5291s mounted for sliding-movement inthe direction of its axis. -As

a result ofthe action of, the stationary follower 38g on the: cam block380-the=-shaft-52-willbe reciprocated axially-during each revolutionthereof. Upon td isplacement ofthe shaft BZ axiallyrin one y directionthe wormg-33 this :so -movedlongitudinally with relationto 'the. wormgear 3321-meshing therewi'th that the motion-. ofthe worm gear 3'32 andofl'the --entire 3 mechanism rotated by -it is. retarded. f 'If. thethrow of the cam 3 8fl-is equal to; lead of -the w0rm-t330','- themotion of the worm, gear. 332 is. completelystopped during thef 'a rialdisplacement of the: shaft :52 in one direction. Asnaybe seen best'in- Fig fi, the ratio oftransmissionfbetweenlthe? shafts; $0

'ahd46,"as"we1l'as'that between the shafts 4e The operation of themachine-4h the opera-- tion of the machine a wood block B ofsubstantially cylindrical shape, which is to be divided into two nestedcomponents by a helical cut extending from one end face of the block tothe other, is presented to the shell 2M and positioned therein inpredetermined relation to the saw 60 by the manipulation of the handwheels 260 and 304, whereupon the work-positioning and securingmechanism is locked to the shell 2M and the two shafts 206 and 208integral therewith. It is understood that the shell 200 is located inits initial position illustrated in Fig. 1 from which it begins itswork-feeding and rotating motion toward the left of that figure. The saw60 extends through a slot 204 of the shell 20!! and.

is positioned opposite one end face of the block B, as illustrated inFig.

Then the handle 368 is moved toward the right I of Fig. 8 to establishdriving connection between the clutch members 344, 346 and to rotate thenut 230. As a result the work-support I2, comprising the threaded shafts206, 208 and the shell 200, is rotated and advanced along the axis ofrotation, the extent of rotation and axial advance being controlled anddetermined by the nut 2|2 engaging the right-hand threaded shaft 298, aspreviously described. The work in thus being moved past the saw androtated with relation to the saw is divided into two parts by ahelically extending out, as illustrated in Figs. 19 to 21. When the saw60 emerges from the end face of the block B opposite to the end facewhere the sawing operation started, the hub of the shell 200 engages thefork 316 and pushes the hand lever 368 toward the left of Fig. 8 tothrow out the clutch 344, 346 and terminate the sawing operation.

After the removal of the two divided work parts the shell 280 and themembers connected therewith are then manually returned into initialposition by means of the capstan 240, 242, the rotatable nut 230spinning idly as well as the loosely rotating gear 342 meshingtherewith.

Having described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a woodworking machine, the combination of a rotary andlongitudinally movable work support provided with two axially alinedscrew shafts, a positively rotated nut engaging one of said screw shaftsto rotate the work support, a stationary nut engaging the other screwshaft and controlling the extent of rotation and longitudinal movementof the work support, a saw for dividing the work into two nestedcomponents, and means for operating the saw.

2. In a woodworking machine, the combination of a rotary andlongitudinally movable work support provided with two axially alinedscrew shafts having different helix angles, a positively rotated nutengaging one of said screw shafts to rotate the work support, astationary nut engaging the other screw shaft and controlling the extentof rotation and longitudinal movement of the work support, a saw fordividing the work into two nested components, and means for operatingthe saw.

3. In a woodworking machine, the combination of a rotary andlongitudinally movable work support provided with two axially alinedscrew shafts having different helix angles, a positively rotated nutengaging the screw shaft having the I larger helix angle to rotate thework, a stationary nut engaging the screw shaft having the smaller helixangle to control the extent of rotation and longitudinal movement of thework support, a saw for dividing the work into two nested components,and means for operating the saw.

4. In a woodworking machine, the combination .of a rotary andlongitudinally movable work support provided with two axially alinedscrew shafts having oppositely extending threads, a positively rotatednut engaging one of said screw shafts to rotate the work support, astationary nut engaging the other screw shaft and controlling the extentof rotation and longitudinal movement of the work support, a saw fordividing the work into two nested components, and means for operatingthe saw.

5. In a woodworking machine, the combination of a saw, a rotatable andlongitudinally movable shell-like work support provided with slots andopenings extending helically in the direction of the axis of rotation ofthe support to afford clearance for the saw in passing through the workwhen the latter is fed past the saw as a result of the longitudinalmovement of the work support, two axially alined oppositely threadedshafts rigid with the work support and arranged for rotation andlongitudinal movement in the direction of their axis of rotation, meansfor operating the saw, means actuated by said saw operating means andengaging one Of said shafts for rotating the shafts and the support, andmeans engaging the other shaft for controlling the extent of rotationand longitudinal movement of the shafts and the support.

6. In a woodworking machine, the combination of a saw, a rotatable andlongitudinally movable shell-like work support provided with slots andopenings extending helically in the direction of the axis of rotation ofthe support to afford clearance for the saw in passing through the workwhen the latter is fed past the saw as a result of the longitudinalmovement of the work support, two axially alined oppositely threadedshafts rigid with the work support and arranged for rotation andlongitudinal movement in the direction of their axis of rotation, meansfor operating the saw, a positively rotated, axially immovable nutengaging one of said shafts and actuated by said saw operating means forrotating the shafts and the support, and a stationary nut engaging theother shaft for controlling the extent of rotation and longitudinalmovement of both shafts.

'7. In a woodworking machine, a vertically reciprocating saw, a movablework support arranged to feed the work past the saw, means forreciprocating the saw at a uniform rate of speed, support actuatingmeans operated by said saw reciprocating means, a rotary and axiallymovable shaft included in said support actuating means, a worm on saidshaft transmitting the rotation of the shaft to a worm gear included insaid support actuating means, a cam on said shaft, and means cooperatingwith said cam for axially moving said shaft during the upstroke of thesaw so as to move the worm bodily with relation to thewormagearzthereby-iredueingvthe feed movement of said support.

5 8. i In a. machine for dividing :a last f'reibart -b1eck i'nto twonest'ed reemponentsceorrespending rroughly totwo'lastforeparts,tassawmhellowxexternally threaded lshait, re, blok esuppnrt rigid. With-saidshaft, 'n'xeansvaeting 0n the shaft-to weause the support to rotatea'bl'ock 'slipporbed 'ithere'in and longitudinallyrmove itipasttthe saw,val-med prongs for lecati'ng'the .blockxm a .pre deter-mined positionwith'hrelati'on to 'zthe .saw -p'r-1or toa sawing operation, aas'cre woperated sleeve arranged "inside 'said shaft-fer relative movementthereto :and carrying-said iiro'ngs, tneans acting 'on=said sleeve tomaintain the prongs in alinement during said: relative movement'of thesleeve and "thelshaft,-and'means for locking said ssleeve and. shafttogether after the completion-of saidrelativemovement.

- 9. In a woodworking machine, a werk-support, a sawhaving'a. bladetwistedalongtits longitudi- -"-na1 axis, .a support for :said .sawincluding a threaded member the helixaangle hf whichrcorresponds to thehelix angle of the' -twistedsaw Number 7 119,678-- amass 141341 147,3397 284,512 A.-eo3,9e4

"fATEQPATifiNTS .Name- 7 1 \Date Wright et a1. June--20, 1865 3,Zimmerman 1 May v14, 1872 Heer .a '.'July' 29, 1373 Grier 1 Feb '10,1874 Tait -.-Sept.-'*4, 1883 Foster-et a1 Aug 26,1884 Ha111 Novfll, 1893Burnham Mar. 21, 1899 Brown Feb.,-Z1, --1905 "blade; means for:reeipreeatingz the-saw support, 2.25

raw

ween-3s 1,979,193 2,030,141 11144 335 Number- -Bergstr.om =1 FitzpatrickGermany 11.1.4

Oct. 29,1918 July .13, 1926 0013.31, 1933 111mg. 14, 1934 Jensen et a1.

Madigan 1-Sept; 17,1940

-Date -Dec. 20 1917 Apr. 30; 1931 Sept; 8, '1934 Country Great BritainGermany '-.'.a

